Heading off around the globe? The world may be your oyster, but it’s wise to have the protective shell of travel insurance. World travel insurance could protect you against unexpected costs like medical treatment, lost baggage, flight delays and cancellations, wherever in the world you might be.

• If you're going on one short holiday, a single trip policy might be an ideal choice for you.
• If you're planning to see the world in a few trips, you might want to consider looking at annual policies
• If you're travelling with your children then family travel insurance could save you time and money

• Medical treatment is probably the most important reason to get travel insurance, as this means you could be covered for hospital expenses and transportation costs back to the UK if you're unwell whilst abroad**
• With cancellations cover you could claim back your money for the hotel, transport and more if you have to cut your trip short or cancel your holiday completely
• Every country around the world has different laws, so you might find that having accident, liability and legal cover could come in handy (make sure you check your policy to see if you're covered for these)

**According to FirstAssist Services Ltd, an air ambulance from USA's East Coast back to the UK could cost around £35-45,000

• You might not be able to claim for flight cancellations if you leave your travel insurance until the last minute, so you might want to consider getting your policy sorted in advance to get the full benefit
• Read the small print of your policy carefully and in advance of setting off, including your policy exclusions to make sure you’re insured for any adventurous activities you have planned
• Check your travel policy for how many days you can travel consecutively. Most policies cover for up to 31 days consecutive days, so if you are travelling for longer than that, a backpacker policy could cover you for a longer period

We want to make your search for global travel cover as straightforward as possible. So go ahead and start your search for cheap worldwide travel insurance – the coverage you want could be far more affordable than you think.

• We offer a variety of articles and guides to help you with your policy and frequently asked questions
• Get quotes in minutes from up to 52 providers, including our most popular providers like Top Dog and Coverwise
• Policy documents could be emailed to you within one hour of purchase, so you could get cover even while at the airport! (please enter your email address carefully and check any junk or spam folders)

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can still get a quote through Confused.com. These conditions could include cancer, stroke, serious heart, respiratory and terminal conditions.

Some insurers might not cover you if you already have a serious medical condition, or if you have a number of conditions. Others might only offer insurance at a much higher price. If you're unable to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has also set up a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

You can contact the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) or you can telephone 0800 138 7777.